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Alex McLeish takes charge of his first game as Nottingham Forest manager this weekend, while Cardiff will look to cement their lead.

Last Updated: 28/12/12 1:29pm

Alex McLeish: Takes charge of Nottingham Forest for the first time

Alex McLeish takes charge of his first game as Nottingham Forest manager this weekend, while leaders Cardiff will look to further cement their spot at the top of the table.

Saturday boasts a full fixture list kicking off with two Yorkshire derbies at lunchtime, while Brighton host Watford live on Sky Sports HD2 in the evening game.

Leaders Cardiff went five points clear at the top of the table with victory over Crystal Palace on Boxing Day and will be looking for their third win on the bounce when they entertain Millwall in South Wales.

Second-placed Hull City missed a chance to close the gap when they were frustrated to a goalless draw at home to Leicester, and will bid to return to winning ways at home to Leeds in one of two lunch-time Yorkshire derbies.

The other sees Huddersfield play host to local rivals Sheffield Wednesday, who have hauled themselves out of the drop zone with three successive wins.

Alex McLeish takes charge of his first game as Nottingham Forest manager when they host Crystal Palace, who remain in the play-off places but have gone off the boil in recent weeks.

Like Palace, Leicester are in the play-off spots but have failed to win in four games and will look to address that wobble when they travel to Burnley.

Middlesbrough are closing on the top two and host Blackpool looking to build on their Boxing Day victory over beleaguered Blackburn.

Blackburn are without a manager following the sacking of Henning Berg this week and will be desperate for three points when they visit fellow strugglers Barnsley, having not won a game since November 17th.

In Saturday's televised game, Watford will bid to defend their spot in the play-off places when they travel to Brighton, who have slipped down into 10th place after failing to win in four games.

Peterborough have enjoyed a recent resurgence, winning their last three successive games to climb off the bottom of the table, and will hope their new-found form continues when they visit fellow basement-dwellers Bristol City.

Charlton's recent poor form has seen them slide down into 18th place and they host mid-table Derby knowing they need to arrest a run of three defeats on the bounce.

Ipswich put more distance between themselves and the drop zone with a win over Charlton last time out and will be seeking another when they visit Wolves at Molineux.

Bolton have lost their last two encounters and will look to avoid a third straight defeat when they entertain Birmingham, who are unbeaten in three.